Spraying or atomizing device.



W. C. CARTER.

SPRAYING 0R ATOMIZING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. I, 1916.

Pate ted Dec. 5, 1916.

"WILIiIAM G. CARTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPRAYING OR ATOMIZING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, ll ltd.

Application filed April 7, 1916. Serial No. 89,667.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spraying or Atomizing Devices, of which thefollownow used extensively for applying varnish," lacquer, paint and other liquids consume a great deal of compressed air, due to leakage of air from thedevice when the spraying operation is interrupted or discontinued intermittently Whilethe device is in use; they become gummed up or clogged if allowed to remain inoperative for several hours after having been used for applying a substance like varnish or paint and they cannot be adjusted quickly to vary the size of the spray or regulate the quantity of liquid be-.

ing applied by the device.

One object of my invention is to provide a spraying or atomizing device of the general type referred to which is so constructed that the compressed air cannot escape from the device when the spraying operation is discontinued.

Another object is toprovide a spraying or atomizing device which comprises as a permanent part thereof a means for quickl dislodg'ing any particles of liquid that become clogged in the air passageway or li d. passageway of the nozzle of the device when the device is not in use.

Another object is to provide a spraying or atomizing device which is so constructed that the operator usingsame can accurately regulatethe supply of air to the nozzle, and thus vary the quantity of liquid discharged from the nozzle, causing the liquid to be,

projected in a spray varying from a very fine to a very heavy spray. And still --another object is to provide aspraying or atomizin r device in which the valve that nozzle is so constructed that the operator merely moves; same in one direction to extends through the center of the nozzle.

7 governs the supply of compressed a r to thev cause the spraying operation to start, and thereafter, merely has to vary the pressure on said valve to regulate the quantity of material discharged from the device.

Other objects and desirable features of my; invention will be hereinafter pointed ou Figure l of the drawings is a vertical sectional view-of a spraying or atomizing device constructed in accordance with my invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a nozzle of any suitable type that is provided with a liquid passageway ,1, B designates a compressed air supply pipe that leads from a supply of air under pressure to an air chamber C and D designates a valve that governs the passage of'the compressed air from the air chamber C to the nozzle of the device. The liquid passageway 1 in the nozzle A communicates with a liquid supply pipe'E, and the nozzle is so arranged with relation to the stream of com pressed air that escapes from the air chamber C when the device is in operation, that said stream of air will cause the liquid to be sucked up through the supply pipe E into the liquid passageway 1 of the nozzle and discharged from the nozzle in the form of a spray. It is immaterial. so far as my broad idea is concerned, how the nozzle A is constructed, or how the air passageway is arranged with relation to the passageway through which the liquid is sucked when the device is in use, but I prefer-to use a nozzle of the form hereinillustr'ated which is prq vided with an annular air passageway 2 that surrounds the liquid passageway l that llt is also immaterial whether the'liquid supply pipe E communicates with a supply of liquid located in proximity to the nozzle or at a point some distance from the nozzle, but when my invention is embodied in a portable spraying device of the character herein illustrated, the, liquid supply pipe: E Wdll project downwardly into a quantity of liquid in a. receptacle or container F provided with a removable cover G that carries the nozzle A and the air chamber to which ,the air supply pipe leads. Various means liquid passageway l in the nozzle A, the means herein illustrated consisting of a partition member II in the nozzle A provided with a ring-shaped passageway 3 to which the upper end of the liquid supply pipe E leads, and having one or more transverse ducts t that lead to the liquid passageway 1 in the center of the nozzle, as shown in Fig. 2. The partition member H is provided with. air ducts 5 that extend longitudinally through same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the compressed air will flow through said ducts 5 into the annular air passageway 2 of the nozzle when the air valve D is opened.

The air valve D is combined with a piston I which is so proportioned and arranged that the air in the air chamber C will exert suflicient pressure on the piston I to normally hold the valve D seated. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein shown, the piston I forms one of the end walls of the air chamber C, and the stem 6 of the valve D is connected to the piston I, so that movement of the piston I to the left, looking at Fig. 1, will cause the valve D to be seated, and movement of the piston I to the right will cause the valve D to be unseated. The piston I is preferably formed of leather, or some other suitable flexible material, and is substantially cup-shaped,-

so that the pressure of the air in the chamber C will beexerted on the flange or annular portion of the piston I in a direction tending to hold said annular portion tightly against the cylindrical wall of the air cham-- ber C on which the annular portion or flange of the piston I slides. The piston I is provided with a stem 7 on which the operator presses to move the piston I to the right, when it is desired to unseat the valve D, and in the preferred form of my invention as herein shown, the valve D and the piston I are connected together in such a manner that the air valve D can rock slightly with relation to the piston I, thus providing for slight inequalities in said elements. head 8, to which the stem 6 of the valve D is pivotally connected by a pin 9 which passes through a transversely-disposed hole 9 in the stem 6, the outer end portions of said hole being slightly enlarged, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit the stem 6 to rotate slightly and also rock upwardly and downwardly slightly with relation to the head 8 of the piston I. The flexible portion of'the piston I is preferably clamped to the head 8 by means of a nut 10 mounted on a screw-threaded portion 7 of the stem 7. The stem 6 of the valve D passes through an air port 11 in one end of the air chamber C that establishes communication between said air chamber and the interior of the nozzle when said valve is unseated, said The piston I is provided with a port having a comparatively sharp edge that forms a valve seat l1 against which a tapered portion on the valve D bears when said valve is seated.

The piston I is of greater area than the portion of the air valve D that is presented to the pressure in the air chamber C when the valve D is closed. consequently. when the device is not in use the air valve 1) will be held tightly seated by the pressure of the air in the chamber 0 which is exerted on the piston I. To operate the device the user merely presses on the stem 7, so as to move the air valve D off its seat, and thus permit the compressed air in the chamber (l to flow through the air ducts 5 in the partition member H into the annular air passageway 2 of the nozzle A, the air, in escaping from the nozzle, creating suflicient suetion iu the liquid passageway 1 of the nozzle to cause. the liquid to be drawn upwardly through the liquid supply pipe E into the liquid passageway 1 of the nozzle and be discharged from the nozzle in the form of a spray. If the air discharges from the nozzle at a slower rate than the air enters the nozzle through the port 11, the pressure in the nozzle will build up, and consequently, will exert pressure on the air valve D in a direction tending to close said valve, this, of course, being due to the fact that the air valve D is arranged inside of the nozzle, instead of in the air chamber. It will thus be seen that the user can accurately regulate the quantity of liquid discharged from the device by simply varying the pressure on the stem 7, the air valve D acting to automatically cut down the supply of air to the nozzle whenever the operator pushes too hard on the stem 7 or tries to admit more air to the nozzle than is being discharged from the nozzle. As soon as the operator releases the stem 7 or ceases to exert pressure on same, the piston I moves to the left under the influence of the pressure of he air in the chamber C, and thus causes the air valve D to be tightly seated, said air valve remaining seated until the operator again pushes the stem 7 to the right.

VVith a device of the construction above described the operator can accurately regulate the spray or can control the quantity of liquid discharged from the nozzle of the device by opening the valve D more or less, so as to vary the supply of airto the nozzle A, the supply of liquid to the liquid passageway 1 of the nozzle varying" automatically as the supply of air to the nozzle is varied. The air valve D is of such form that it is sure to seat tightly when in its closed position, even after the device has been in use for a long period,and the piston I is also of such form that there'is no lia-' bility of the air in the chamber C leaking past same, said piston I having a flexible tit annular portion that is held pressed tightly against the cylindrical wall of the air chamber G by the internal pressure in said chamber. The fact that the device will produce a spray varying from a fine spray to a heavy spray makes it a decided improvement on the spraying or atomizing devices heretofore in use, but the particularly desirable characteristic of my .deviceis the ease and accuracy with which the discharge of the liquid from the nozzle can be controlled, the device being so designed that it tends to adjust itself automatically, in case the air is being admitted to the nozzle too rapidly,

and furthermore, being so designed that the element 7 which governs the position of the air valve constantly exerts pressure on the operators hand or finger in a direction opposite to the direction the operator pushes on said element during the spraying operation, thus making the air valve D very sensitive and easy to control.

In order to overcome the necessity of adjusting the device or taking a sharp instrument to break up the scum or liquid that dries and clogs the end of the nozzle after the device has been left standing for a few hours, I have provided the nozzle A with a means that operates automatically as soon as the air valve D is opened to dislodge or break up any dried liquid or scum that tends to clog the annular air passageway in the end of the nozzle. In the form of my invention herein shown said means consists of a ring J that is loosely mounted in the annular air passageway 2 at the end of the nozzle and which is of such dimensions that it is free to move upwardly, downwardly and also laterally, said ring having a flange 12 at the inner end of same that coiiperates with a flange 13 on the end portion of the nozzle A to prevent the ring from being blown out of the nozzle when the air valve D is opened. When the device is in use the compressed air that escapes from the end of the nozzle holds the ring J centered with respect to the portion of the nozzle that it surrounds and in which the liquid passageway 1 is formed, but as soon as the air valve D is closed so as to cut off the supply of air to the nozzle, the ring J drops slightly, and if the device as an entirety is thereafter moved or tilted upwardly, the ring J will move inwardly. Thereafter, when the air valve D is opened to resume the spraying operation, the compressed air which travels through the annular air passageway 2 will move the ring J back-to its former position, and will thus cause said ring to break up or dislodge any scum or dried liquid at the end of the nozzle which tends to interfere with the free discharge of the air. If

desired, a thin rod or wire 14 can be arranged in the liquid passageway 1 of the nozzle, so as to enable the operator to dis- I lodge or break up any liquid that dries in said passageway, the front end of said wire projectingv slightly from the front end of the nozzle and the rear end of said wire being rigidly connected to a plug 15 that closes theliquid passageway 1.

.As previously stated, it isimmaterial, so

far as my broad idea is concerned, how the nozzle A is constructed, but for the sake of the annular air passageway 2, and the center opening in the member 18 constituting the liquid passageway 1. The member 18 is integrally connected to the partition member H previously described, and the'member 17 is screwed into a cylindrical bore in the portion 16 of the cover G, said member 17 being provided at its inner end with a sharp corner or edge that bears against a tapered surface 19 on the partition member 7 H, so as to form a tight joint between said parts. A cup-shaped member 20 that is arranged in the cylindrical bore in the portion 16 and which bears against a shoulder 21 on said portion 16 forms one of the end walls of the air chamber C, said member 20 being clamped securely in position by the partition member H which is provided with another inclined surface 19*. that bears against a sharp corner or edge on the front end of the member '20. The air chamber C is formed by a cylindrical bore in the portlon 16 of the cap G in which the piston T is reciprocatingly mounted, and the com pressed air supply pipe B is threaded into a boss 22 on the portion 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The cover G is provided with a handle 23, and if desired, the stem 7 of the piston I may project through the grip 24 of said handle and be provided at its outer end with a button or other suitable device 25 on which the palm of the operators hand rests when the operators hand surrounds the grip 24 of the handle. As. shown in Fig. 1, the receptacle G is provided with an air vent 26. By constructing the device in this manner the operator can easily carry the device and control the air valve D with one hand and can accurately regulate the discharge of the liquid from the device by exerting more or less pressure with the palm of his hand on the button 25 on the outer end of the stem 7.

A spraying or atomizing device of the construction described is of such simple design thatit can be manufactured cheaply; it does not waste air when the spraying operation is discontinued intermittently when the device is in use; it does not comprise a spring for holding the air valve seated; the valve D and the piston I are of such design that they will not wear out quickly; the device comprises as a permanent part thereof a means for dislodging or breaking up any dry liquid that gums up the nozzle when the device is left standing for a few hours, after having been used for spraying a substance like paint or varnish; and still another desirable feature of such a device is that the operator can easily control the discharge of liquid from the device and cause the liquid to be projected from the nozzle in a spray varying from a very fine to a very heavy spray.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a nozzle provided with a liquid passageway and an air passageway arranged concentric with respect to said liquid passageway and having a restricted discharge opening, an air chamber in said nozzle, a piston in said air chamber, an air valve connected to said piston and arranged inside of the air passageway of the nozzle so that it will tend to move toward its seat when the pressure of the air in said air passageway builds up,'a liquid supply pipe communicat-- ing with the liquid passageway in the nozzle, an air supply pipe communicating with said air chamber, and a device on said piston for moving it so as to unseat said air valve.

2. A spraying or atomizing device provided with a nozzle to which air under pressure is admitted, means for causing a liquid to be atomized or converted into a spray by the air admitted to said nozzle, and a manually-operable valve for admitting air to the nozzle and for automatically diminishing the supply of air to the nozzle when the air escapes from the nozzle at a slower rate than the air is being admitted to the nozzle.

3. A spraying or atomizing device provided with a nozzle to which air under pressure is admitted, said nozzle having an air passageway provided with a restricted discharge opening, means for causing a liquid to be atomized or converted into a spray by the air admitted to said nozzle, and a valve for controlling the supply ofair to the no-zzle, said valve being arranged inside of said air passageway so that when the pressure in the air passageway of the nozzle increases, said increased pressure will tend to cause said valve to move toward its closed position, and thus automatically diminish the supply of air to the nozzle.

4. A spraying .or atomizing device provided with a nozzle to which air under pressure is admitted, said nozzle having an air passageway whose discharge end is restricted, means forcausing a liquid to-be atomized or converted intoa spray by the air admitted to said nozzle, and a manually-operable valve for controlling the supply of air to the nozzle and for automatically diminishing the supply of air to the nozzle when the pressure inside of the nozzle builds up or increases.

5. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a nozzle provided with a. liquid passageway, an air passageway arranged concentric with respect to said liquid passageway, and a manually-operable valve for governing the admission of air to said air passageway and provided with a restricted discharge opening, said valve being arranged inside of said air passageway so that it will tend to move toward its seat when the pressure of the air in said air builds up.

6. In a spraying or atomizing device that is adapted to beoperated by air under pressure, a nozzle provided with a. restricted discharge opening, an air chamber to which air under pressure is supplied, an air valve in said nozzle provided with a stem that projects outwardly through a port that establishes communication between said air chamher and nozzle, an actuating piston in said air chamber to which said valve stem is pivotally connected, said piston.having an annular flexible portion that is held )ressed against the side wall of said chamber by the pressure in said chamber, and means under control of the operator for moving said actuating piston in one direction.

7. In a spraying or atomizing device, a nozzle, an air chamber provided with a port through which the air escapes to said nozzle, an air valve in said nozzle provided with a stem that projects outwardly through said port, and an actuating piston in said air chamber having the stem of said air valve pivotally connected to same.

8.. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a nozzle, an air chamber to which air under pressure is supplied, a manuallyoperable piston that forms one end wall of said chamber and provided with a flexible annular portion that is held against the side wall of said chamber by the pressure in same, an air valve that governs the passage passageway "of the air from said air chamber to said nozzle, and a connection between said valve and piston.

9. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a nozzle composed of two tubularshaped members arranged one inside of the other and spaced apart so as to form an annular air passageway betweensaid members, a partition member that carries the inner tubular member, a liquid supply pipe, means in said partition member for establishing communication between said liquid supply pipe and the center opening in said inner tubular member, and air ducts in said 1 207,27 ty'gg partition member through which air under pressure passes to said annular-shaped air passageway. f

10. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a container that is adapted to hold a liquid, a removable cover for said container having a cylindrical bore that extends through same, a part of which forms an air chamber, a nozzle mounted in one end of said bore and provided with an air passageway and a liquid passageway, a piston in said bore that forms one end of said air chamber and also acts as a closure for one end of said bore, and an air valve pivotally connected to said piston for controlling the passage of the air from said air chamber to the air passageway of said nozzle. I

11. A spraying or atomizing device pro vided with a nozzle to which a liquid and air under pressure are supplied when the device is in operation, and a notabl means arranged in the nozzle and forming a part of the complete nozzle for dislodging or breaking up particles of liquid that dry in the end portion of the nozzle without disassembling the nozzle.

12. A spraying or atomizing device pro vided with a nozzle that has a liquid passageway and an annular air passageway that surrounds same, a member arranged to move freely in said air passageway and adapted to be actuated by the pressure of the air passing through same for breaking up or dislodging any particles of liquid that dry adjacent the outlet of said air passageway when the device is not used, and means for preventing said member from escaping from the nozzle.

13. A spraying or atomizing device provided with a nozzl having an annular air passageway that surrounds a liquid passageway, a ring-shaped memberarranged freely in s: id air passageway atthe end of the nozid adapted to be actuated by the air s ng through said passageway for disiodging or breaking up any particles of liquid that dry in the discharge end ofsaid air passageway, and means that limits the movement of the said member with relation to said nozzle.-

14. A spraying or atomizing device provided with a nozzle having a liquid passageway, and a manually-operable member forming a permanent part of the device and arranged in said passageway in such a manner that it can be moved laterally of said passageway for breaking up or dislodging any particles of liquid that become dried in said passageway.

15. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a nozzle provided with a liquid passageway and an annular air passagewa that surrounds the same, means for breaking up or dislodging any particles of liquid that become dried in either of said passageways comprising a manually-operable device arranged in the liquid passageway, a ringshaped member mounted loosely in the end of said air passageway, and means that prevents said member from being blown out of said passageway.

16. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a container for holding liquid that is to be sprayed, a nozzle carried by said container and provided with a liquid passageway that communicates with the interior of said container, an air passageway in said nozzle, a handle for carrying said container, an air valve for governing the supply of air to said air passageway, andacontrolling device for said air valve arranged in such a manner that it can be actuated by the palm of the users hand that grasps said handle.

17. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a container for holding a liquid that is to be sprayed, a removable cover for said container, a handle on said cover having a hand grip, a nozzle having a liquid passageway and an air passageway, an air valve for controlling a supply of air to said air passageway, and an operating device for said air valve that passes through the hand grip of said handle, so that it will be engaged by the palm of the hand grasping said p- 18. A spraying or atomizing device, comprising a receptacle for holding the liquid that is to be sprayed, a removable cover for said receptacle formed by a casting, a handle on said cover provided with a hand grip, a nozzle arranged in a bore'in said cover and provided with a liquid passageway, and an air passageway, means for establishing communication betweenthe liquid passageway of said nozzle and the liquid in said container, an air chamber formed by a bore in Correction m Letters Pat No. L

1916, upon the application of VViHiam C. Carter, of St. Louis, Missouri, for

12-. is hereby certlfied that in Letters Patent- No. 1,207,274, granted Doverm,,; S,

imp ovement in Spraying or Atomizing Devices, an errm appears in the pfiilhm notable read movable; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this eerrectien therein that the same may conform to -the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of January, A. D., 1917.

[SEAL-1 R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 01. 91-45.

sipecificntion requiring correction as follmvs: Page 5, line 21, claim 11, for the won} 

